Most day trips from Thessaloniki are about ruins or beaches. Pozar is about warm water. Tucked into a wooded gorge below Mount Voras, these natural hot springs pour out of the rock at a steady 37°C and tumble down waterfalls into turquoise pools beside a cold mountain river — so you can slide from steaming water into an icy stream and back again, wrapped in steam and forest. It's a genuinely different day out, and it's at its best exactly when the beaches aren't: in the cool months. Here's how to do it.
The day trip at a glance
Pozar (properly Loutra Loutrakiou, near Aridaia) has two halves — a free-to-wander gorge and a ticketed set of thermal pools — and most people do both.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Distance | ≈110 km · ~1.5–2 h from Thessaloniki |
| Water | Natural mineral springs, ~37°C year-round |
| Free | Parking, the forest footpaths & the gorge's caves park |
| Tickets | Open-air thermal pools €4 (or a €7 all-day pass); indoor private baths & hammam from €13 |
| Best season | Autumn to spring (soaking in the cold is the whole point) |
| Pair with | The Edessa waterfalls, 40 km east |
It's open all year, and the gorge is quiet on weekdays — Greek visitors pack it out on winter weekends.
The springs: hot water, cold river
The water surfaces at the hydrotherapy centre at about 37°C and runs down the gorge in a run of waterfalls and turquoise pools, right alongside a cold stream that sits nearer 15°C. That contrast is the whole experience: you soak under a warm cascade, then step into the cold river to cool off, then back. The mineral water is faintly sulphurous and leaves the rocks streaked ochre and green, and steam hangs over the gorge on a cold morning.
There are two sides to a visit. Wandering the gorge is free — there's free parking, and forest footpaths climb through the trees and the caves park above the water. Soaking, though, is ticketed: the open-air thermal pools carved into the bank cost €4 per person, or a €7 all-day pass (up to three entries, covering three of the outdoor pools), with the separate large outdoor pool €5 (children 6–12 €3.50, under-6s free). Next to them, the Alexandreio hydrotherapy centre rents indoor private pools and hammams by 30-minute appointment, from €13 for two people up to €24 for six — worth it in colder weather or for a proper soak. The complex is open daily, year-round, from 07:00. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and water shoes for the slippery rocks.
More than a soak
The gorge itself is a small nature reserve. Threaded through it are 15 caves — Greece's first designated speleological park — and marked footpaths climb through the forest above the pools, so there's a walk to be had between dips. The riverside has tavernas and cafés for a long lunch, which makes Pozar an easy full day rather than a quick stop.
When to go
Counter-intuitively, the springs are best in the cool months — autumn, winter and spring — when sitting in 37°C water with cold air on your face is at its most magical, and the gorge is at its greenest and quietest on weekdays. Winter weekends are the busiest of the year with Greek visitors, so come midweek if you can. Summer works, but the hot water is less of a draw in the heat, and you'll do better at a Halkidiki beach. For the wider seasonal picture, see our best time to visit guide, and pair it with a winter city break for a warm-and-cold weekend.
Getting there from Thessaloniki
Pozar sits about 110 km west, near Aridaia in the Pella region — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away.
| Option | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Car | ~1.5–2 h via the Edessa–Aridaia road | Flexibility, adding Edessa |
| KTEL bus | Bus to Aridaia, then a taxi the final 13 km | Car-free travellers |
| Guided tour | Round-trip from Thessaloniki, usually with Edessa | No planning or driving |
Because the Edessa waterfalls are only 40 km east, the two pair naturally into one day of water and waterfalls — a warm soak and Greece's tallest waterfall. If you'd rather not drive, the Pozar thermal springs and Edessa day trip (around €58, rated 4.8) bundles exactly that combination; it's one of our ranked day trips from Thessaloniki, and there's a full Pozar day-trip page with the practical details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pozar thermal baths?
Pozar (Loutra Loutrakiou), near Aridaia in the Pella region, is one of Greece's best-known natural hot springs. Mineral water emerges at a constant 37°C and runs down a wooded gorge below Mount Voras, tumbling over waterfalls into turquoise pools beside a cold mountain river, so you can move between hot and cold water. Alongside the natural setting there's an organised spa complex with indoor and outdoor pools, private baths, hammams and hydrotherapy.
Is it free to visit Pozar?
Partly. Parking is free and you can walk the gorge's forest footpaths and caves park at no charge. But soaking is ticketed: the open-air thermal pools cost €4 per person (or a €7 all-day pass covering three of them), the large outdoor pool €5, and the indoor private pools and hammams at the Alexandreio hydrotherapy centre run from €13 for two people, booked by 30-minute appointment. Bring a swimsuit, water shoes for the rocks, and a towel.
When is the best time to visit Pozar?
Autumn, winter and spring are best: soaking in 37°C water is most enjoyable when the air is cold, and the gorge is green and quiet on weekdays. The springs are open year-round but get busy on winter weekends with Greek visitors. Summer works too, though the hot water appeals less in the heat.
How do I get to Pozar from Thessaloniki?
It's about 110 km west — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car via the Edessa and Aridaia road. Without a car, take a KTEL bus from Thessaloniki to Aridaia and a short taxi for the final 13 km to the springs. Because the Edessa waterfalls are only about 40 km away, many people combine Pozar and Edessa into one day, or join a guided tour that does both.
